Jack Layton as Canadian icon, positive people as a turn-on, and on a bad day looks like “more like Nick Nolte’s famous mug shot”? Sold!  All about cleavage music maker Carrie Chesnutt is our Woman of the Hour and takes our TMI Questionnaire:

JUST THE FACTS

I’m a (star sign): I am an Aries, on the cusp of Taurus (yikes is right!).
I’m (age): Older than Gaga, younger than Tina.
I am a: Music maker.
My fave colour: Purple tending towards periwinkle  Passion: love.
My Canadian icon is: Jack Layton.
Fantasy entourage: Patti Labelle, Bette Midler, and Cher.
Fictional best friend: Dr. Christian Northrup.
Turn-ons: Positive people.
Irresistible in a mate: Patience.
Phrase I most overuse: “I’ll get back to you.”
Most people would be surprised to know: I can cook, too.
Talent I wish I had: Hardcore business skills.
The celebrity I most closely resemble is: Elizabeth Taylor on a good day… in the morning, more like Nick Nolte’s famous mug shot with the bad hair.
The one word my best friend would use to describe me is: Resilient.
My parents wanted me to be this when I grew up: Employed.
When I order a cocktail I ask for: A double.

GUILTY PLEASURES

TV: Modern Family.
Song: “Sexy and I know It” by LMFAO (“Animal print pants out of control”). Oh yeah.
Greatest extravagance: Potions and vitamins and powders  of all types to stay alive and kicking for another day.
Candy: dark chocolate covered coffee beans.
Last impulse-purchase: Victoria’s Secret “Miracle” bra.
Last regretted purchase: Cheap socks.

WEAR APPARENT

Jeans: Don’t really do jeans. Love bellbottoms, though!
Footwear: Sensible hooker shoes.
Underwear: Lace.
Watch: Don’t wear one.
Eyewear: Derek Cardigan 7005 super huge cat eyes. Very geeky!
Casual: Cleavage and something black.
Formal: Cleavage and  something black with something shiny.
Perfume / Cologne: “Creme Brule”  by Bathwerks. People follow me on the street and ask  me what I am wearing. It has totally replaced my $200 bottle of Jean Paul Gaultier!

BEAUTY DUTY

Shampoo: “Ice Cream” by Inybra.
Face wash: Alba.
Moisturizer: Organic Lukui Oil by Alba.
Body Lotion: “Creme Brule” by Bathwerks.
Make-Up Line: MAC.
Indulgence: a day at Body Blitz: scrubbed rubbed and polished from head to toe. Followed  by dinner at Fresh, then great champagne with something  raspberry and chocolate.

GOTTA GETTA GADGET

Gadgets: ALL THINGS MAC.  I love my iPhone. How did I live without it? I’m in  the MAC  ONE 2 ONE geek school now and I love it!
On my music player now: My music to learn for the Women’s Blues Revue and various songs in production.
I always PVR: I stream on my computer.
Best app ever: Hayhouse Radio.

CULTURE VULTURE

Last book read: Tom Waits’ biography.
Last movie seen: Tortilla Soup with Raquel Welch.
Last concert: Prince at the ACC (Air Canada Centre in Toronto).
Last play: Tracy Erin Smith’s Soul-0 Theater’s course graduation performance (I was a student).
Last song sung in the shower: I bathe, darling! It’s the only time in the day I don’ t really sing to myself.. I just lay back and enjoy.

OBSESSIONS

Current obsession: Raw flax crackers.
Past obsession: Hair and wigs (okay, maybe not all in the past!).
Future obsession: Becoming an organized person (really more of a fantasy!).

CRYSTAL BALL

The next big thing will be: Saxophone solos back in pop music.
I see myself in this place in ten years: Somewhere warm.

AND FINALLY…

Words of wisdom: Spend more time with happy people who work hard and see the best in others.

Carrie will be debuting two new songs at the Inspire Award presentation and cocktail reception on Dec 14, 2011 at The Courtyard Marriot (475 Yonge Street).

DUDE4DUDE :: I have a huge problem with the fact that people are giving Chaz Bono such a hard time on Dancing With The Stars. I wanted to write this post before the show started, but I thought I would see how he dances before I let loose.

Philip Tetro’s Madonna Watch

Besides that fact that I have such a kindred connection with Chaz’s mother, Cher, I have followed Chaz’s transition from female to male since the beginning. I have seen his documentary, Becoming Chaz, and I have such a soft-spot in my heart for him (and, no, not just because we could be brothers. And, no, not because I am going to be him for Halloween this year). It has been a long, torturous ride for this son of a bitch (I use “bitch” in the most loving terms). He is the face of Transgendered America – one of the most confusing, taboo sexual identities of the 21^st Century. As if being gay isn’t hard enough, Chaz has proved that it’s even harder when you can’t even connect with your own gender. It’s two completely different things, yes, but my gay brethren can relate to growing up being and feeling different than the rest of the hetero world. It’s the same feeling. We’re all different. So let’s show him some fucking compassion. He is the Rosa Parks of the huge transgender population of the world, and watching it all unfold with all this backlash is terrifying. We’re not called LGBTLMNOPQRS for nothing. And can we not forget that he has to live with the weight (no pun intended) of Cher’s legacy on his shoulders.

Jennifer Breakspear on Chaz Bono :: Dancing To Understand

The public cry for Chaz’s dismissal on the show is just awful! “We don’t want to confuse our children,” “how do we explain to them that he was once a girl and is now a boy?” First of all, I think you should be more concerned with your children’s confusion with the amount of murder, bullying, war, racism, hunger, and hatred in the world. Chaz is a boy. What’s so confusing? What is there to explain? Ignorance is not bliss, my friends.

So he can’t dance. Neither can Cher. Sure, they shimmy great, but the Transgendered Male apple doesn’t fall far from the Tree. Chaz’s Cha-Cha was entertaining, for sure (and a little funny). But, my Goddess, does he try. And can’t we all just get by now that if you try really hard, you succeed?

LEAVE CHAZ ALONE.

Philip Tetro is a panellist on MTV’s 1 girl 5 gays, and really does look like he could be Chaz Bono’s brother.

Chaz Bono Leaves Dancing With The Stars Rehearsal

TRANS DANCING WITH THE STARS :: Chaz Bono is Dancing with the Stars and I say good for him. Not that I watch the show. From the little bits I’ve gleaned from social media it looks like a potentially embarrassing exercise that I would avoid like the plague. But I am so glad Chaz is on the show.

Last week I was contacted by a local radio show and asked to go on air to talk about Chaz Bono on Dancing With the Stars and the controversy that has developed. At first I was surprised to be asked. Surprised that a few American transphobic looney tunes warranted discussion on a Vancouver radio show. But the more I thought about it the more it made perfect sense, and important media commentary.

TRANS MOVEMENT :: A trans man wins Mr. International Leatherman

I remember Chaz’s earliest TV appearances, a bashful blonde baby girl on her proud parents’ program, The Sonny and Cher Show. As the child of two celebrity parents young Chastity could never hope to grow up in private. When Chaz came out about his transition he focused the resulting media spotlight toward a common good, that of raised awareness, education and greater understanding.

Transgender people are among the last to succeed in the struggle for full civil rights. Here in Canada lesbians and gays have achieved full legal equality. We must remain vigilant to protect our rights and ensure that the whims of politicians and the winds of social mood don’t infringe on our enjoyment of those rights but our Supreme Court decreed that sexual orientation is to be ‘read into’ the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. No such decree protects trans people. Bill Siksay introduced a private members bill (Bill C389) in 2010 which would have amended the Canadian Human Rights Act and Criminal Code to include gender identity and gender expression. But the bill died on the order paper when a federal election was called in 2011.

Whenever I speak on trans issues it is clear that the greatest enemy of understanding is lack of familiarity. When people think that they don’t know any trans people they lack a frame of reference, ignorance overcomes curiosity and fear prevents understanding. But when we know someone who is trans, when we see them within an understandable context, it is much harder to hold hard lines. The concept becomes a reality. The foreign becomes familiar. For those people who do not have trans people within their social networks (or are not aware that they do) the appearance of Chaz Bono on Dancing With the Stars, hearing him speak about his reality, brings the unfamiliar into their living room. And with familiarity we can overcome fear and ignorance until we reach understanding.

JENNIFER BREAKSPEAR :: A Luxurious Debate

It will take Chaz Bono dancing on TV, other trans people bravely coming out in their communities, the introduction of new legislation, more political debates and all of us speaking up and against hate but I believe that we will celebrate the achievement of full legal equality for trans people in the near future.

There are people who would rather stuff Chaz – and a number of people whom I personally care about – into a deep dark closet. Chaz’s appearance on American mainstream prime time TV has the potential to break down that closet door. Let Chaz dance. Let us cheer Chaz. And let his dance steps be significant steps toward understanding, acceptance and celebration.

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Alright, there are a lot of people complaining that they find Twitter boring. And understandably. With only 140 characters to work with, it’s usually just the facts on Twitter.

I call it Facebook Lite. Twitter is like the Blackberry of social media while Facebook is the iPhone. No wonder long-winded, game playing Facebook types find Twitter boring. It’s just them and their friends. No distractions.

I say mix it up. Don’t follow your friends on Twitter! Most of them probably suck anyway! Start following the alphabet soup of celebrity lists. A, B, C and, yes, D-listers are SO gonna be more fun than your friends.

Trust me. This is why I follow Cher. On Twitter there’s no beads, no wigs, no makeup. It’s just Cher, and this bitch is crazy! Spelling mistakes and all!

- Richard Ryder is never boring on Twitter. (He spells right, two.)

I never thought I’d make for a pretty girl. I mean, I’m really good-looking (what?), but I never thought I could be a showgirl. That was until yesterday, when I was asked by my good friend and MTV Canada Make-Up Artist, Lucky Bromhead, if I would be her model (victim) for a Pride make-up tutorial video on MTV Fora – MTV’s beauty and fashion blog sister-site.

The video (which will be out next week) chronicles my bitching and whining over her tweezing my eyebrows, applying false eyelashes, getting glitter in my eyes, and whether or not Madonna would be pleased with my new appearance. I really had a new appreciation for the effort and energy drag queens and Cher must have every day. After an hour of a few Madonna impressions, laughs, curse words, and discussing our One Wish For Pride all recorded in HD, I was transformed into a bearded hybrid of Boy George and Roseanne Barr. I couldn’t have been anymore thrilled when I was presented with a red, feathered headpiece that Gaga would lose her shit over.

I’m thrilled to have had the opportunity to know that in case this TV stuff doesn’t work out, I could easily be a showgirl in some underground, kinky Vegas nightclub. Very underground. For the blind.

So, here’s a sneak-peek at what I looked like. Isn’t Lucky just the prettiest? Happy Pride, y’all!

- Philip Tetro

MTV Canada released Britney Spears’ official The Femme Fatale Tour set-list today. I have never been more disappointed in a set list in my life. As someone who has followed iconic Divas all my life, I think I have a pretty good idea as to what works and what doesn’t work live. Please don’t get me wrong, I still don’t think Madonna and Cher know what the fuck they are doing in their live sets. They get it wrong all the time. From song performances at award shows, to a full-blown international tour, these bitches are dumb.

Let’s begin with Britney Spears. I know that most tours begin in promotion of brand new material and said brand new material will become the bulk of what’s performed in the new tour. However, I cannot imagine what Britney was thinking when, in less than three years, she’s gone on two huge world tours, and has neglected most of the songs that have made her who she is today. How dare she not perform “Sometimes,” a song that reflects insecurities and vulnerability that solidified me as a fan. How dare she not perform, “Crazy,” “Oops! I Did It Again,” “Not A Girl, No Yet A Woman”, “From The Bottom Of My Broken Heart,” and “Born To Make You Happy.” These songs made Britney’s early career and she’s completely forgotten about them in her touring and performances. And what about the songs that kept her afloat while she was semi-psychotic? “My Prerogative” and “Someday I Will Understand” have been murdered and neglected into music history. Britney has now become a marketing machine for work that she has little-to-no influence over. She’s been thrust into a world of electronic sounds (be them mediocre to “good” songs, at best), and is not touring for the fans, but for the money.

I am not defending Madonna’s set-list choices, either. Where has that bitch’s full “Something to Remember,” “Erotica,” “Bedtime Stories,” “Ray of Light,” and “American Life” tracks gone? Where has any non-Top-40 Sonny and Cher song been during Cher’s last three tours (which were all basically the same, with minor changes). And, not to mention well-known non-album, and B-Sides, too.

Fans don’t just want new material performed and fans don’t just want what was #1. We want the goods! There should be some sort of voting mechanism in place for tours, where fans can vote on what songs we want performed. We are the ones paying for tickets and paying for what we want, so why can’t we decide what we want to see? It’s up to us!

- Philip Tetro

UPDATE: Videos of Britney’s The Femme Fatale Tour have been flooding our inbox this morning, so we’ve decided to update Philip’s post with some BritBrit performances! – GGT

Intro

“Hold It Against Me” and “Up N Down”

“Gimme More”

“Womanizer”

“Toxic”

“How I Roll”

This ShambledRambler is a Cancer, was born in Niagra and curses like a sailor. Kristen Goetz is our Woman of the Hour!

JUST THE FACTS

I’m a Cancer. Moody, stubborn, and infinitely awesome.

I’m 27.

I was born: In a distant galaxy. It’s called Niagara.

I write, create, and curse like a sailor.

My fave colour: Red.

Passion: I have a passion for passion itself. And Big Macs.

Fantasy entourage: Archie, Jughead, Betty, Veronica… yeah, I should’ve been born in Riverdale.

Turn-ons: Honesty, confidence, and someone that just friggin’ “gets it”.

Irresistible in a mate: A heartbeat. I find it very important.

Phrase I most overuse: “Ah, f$&@k”

Most people would be surprised to know I: am terrified of scary movies. I’m the biggest chickenshit. But I’ll still beat you up! Grr.

Fictional best friend: You. All of you.

Talent I wish I had: Either to be able to draw (I even suck at stick figures. Sticks are complicated.), or the ability to play any intstrument that I pick up. I’d be a one-chick band.

When I order a cocktail I ask for: Beer. Which is not a cocktail. But we can pretend, can’t we?

GUILTY PLEASURES

TV: Kardashians. Whichever ones. They make me feel better about being poor and smart.

Song: “I Whip My Hair Back & Forth”. Catchy summabitch it is.

Greatest extravagance: That hooker in Vegas. Um.. I mean… my TV?

WEAR APPARENT

Jeans: Old and ripped.

Footwear: Boot-tastic or dog-walk friendly.

Watch: Broken.

Eyewear: Does mascara count?

Casual: Nah, I like to be monogamous…

Formal: Prom dress. Still fits.

Perfume / Cologne: A discontinued vanilla that I’ve been hoarding over the years.

BEAUTY DUTY

Shampoo: Dove for colour-treated hair.

Face wash: Aveeno

Moisturizer: Dove or Neutrogena

Body Lotion: Ah, hell… I have a dept store worth. All kinds.

Indulgence: Conditioners. I collect ‘em like stamps. Or men.

GOTTA GETTA GADGET

Gadgets: I know most disagree, but I do like my BlackBerry. I just can’t type on those damn iPhones.

On my music player now: Radiohead and Faith No More.

I always PVR: Nothing. I don’t have one. Does downloading count?

CULTURE VULTURE

Last book read: re-read Chuck Klosterman IV.

Last movie seen: Clueless was on TV the other day. Oh, Cher.

Last concert: The Pack AD, but that was more of a “show”. Last concert? I couldn’t tell you the names of the bands.

Last play: I sadly can’t remember.

OBSESSIONS

Current obsession: Food! Beer!

Past obsession: Food! Beer!

Future obsession: Food! Beer! And maybe a dude.

CRYSTAL BALL

The next big thing will be: Me, baby.

AND FINALLY …

Words of wisdom: “Don’t make someone a priority if they only make you an option. They do this because they suck. And sucky people suck.”

You can find further nonsensical bullcrap over at my blog Shambled Ramblings. But only if ya wanna.

Political landscapes change. The pop culture pendulum swings back and forth. Trends weave to and fro. Divas come and go. But a legend lives forever.

By the turn of the new millennium, Cher had cemented her status as an entertainment legend. She had done just about everything an entertainer could do: music, movies, television, touring, Broadway, producing and directing.
And she wasn’t done yet. Read the full story

The 90s would be a chaotic decade, beginning with the first war in the Gulf, the first effects of the Bush administration (V.1), a recession, an economic boom, the Clinton years, the overexposure of Madonna, and the death of Diana. It would also be a chaotic decade for Cher.

The decade got off to a booming start for Cher with the release of another hit movie, Mermaids, and her cover of The Shoop Shoop Song. While that little ditty didn’t catch fire on the American charts, it became a huge hit around the world. Cher followed up with the release of one of her most critically acclaimed albums to date, Love Hurts.

Love Hurts was a modest success in North America but became a smash in Europe and the UK, spawning a number of hits, including the title track and Save Up All Your Tears. Cher toured extensively in support of the album, selling our big venues across Europe. Read the full story

Reagan, Thatcher and Gorbachev. MTV, Live Aid and Much Music. Madonna, Duran Duran and Prince. The 1980s saw the explosion of new wave and dance music into the mainstream. It was the era of MTV videos and corporate rock. It was the decade that brought us Dallas and Dynasty, double-digit inflation and shoulder pads that made Joan Crawford roll over in her grave. And still, there was Cher.

Cher had become a solo superstar in the 70s with a string of smash hits and was one of the queens of prime time television. However, Cher’s fortunes began to fade as the 80s rolled in. After hitting big chart success with her disco song, Take Me Home, Cher decided to change her musical direction and try her hand at rock. So, she formed the band Black Rose and released an album by the same name. Read the full story